KOFP-FM New Beginnings

In downtown Fresno KOFP 103.3 founder and CEO Patrick Okoegwale says he started the radio station to bring more awareness to the African American community. He says as a minority group, African Americans need better representation.

“We don’t have any means of communicating with one another,” Okoegwale says. “So I said we have to have media, there by which we can communicate. Hence the founding of KOFP 103.3.”

The station brings diversity to the valley, providing everything from reggae, inspirational talk, hip hop, R&B and more. DJ Dennis Horn says because the station is new it might struggle with attracting new listeners.

“People are loyal to certain stations,” Horn says. “They’re familiar with other stations already, so teaching them something new is always a challenge.” Horn wants to connect listeners to African American history and culture that he says has been neglected in the valley.

Producer Jamila Harris makes the connection with her new Afro beats segment that she created to take people back to their African American roots.

She quotes an old African proverb: When you want to go fast go alone. When you want to go far go together. “And that’s why you being a team unified as one will help us progress into the future,” Harris says.

Okoegwale says the start up has not been easy. He hopes to find stable financial backing as well new talent and listeners from all segments of the community.